Viral syncytia evolve to resist interferon.

ingentiumby ingentium

In Coronavirus Literature.

Publication date: Jul 20, 2026

SARS-CoV-2, like many viruses, generates syncytia but the role of syncytia formation in viral evolution remains unknown. Using SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S) replacement vesicular stomatitis (VSV), we show that S-mediated syncytia impair the antiviral effects of interferons in cultured cells, human lung cell cultures, and hACE2 transgenic mice. Amino acid substitutions that modulate syncytia formation in Delta- and Omicron-encoded S have parallel effects on viral interferon resistance. S-mediated syncytia compromise antibody-mediated virus neutralization in cultured cells. We recapitulate interferon and neutralizing antibody resistance in syncytia generated by the orthoreovirus p14 fusion-associated small transmembrane (FAST) protein in VSV, influenza virus, and seasonal coronavirus OC43 infections. These findings explain selection of SARS-CoV-2 fusogenic variants in humans and, more generally, the evolution of fusogenic viruses driven by adaptive and innate immunity.

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Concepts Keywords
Antibody
Cells
Cov
Cultured
Evolution
Formation
Interferon
Mediated
Resistance
Sars
Syncytia
Viral
Virus
Viruses
Vsv

Semantics

Type Source Name
disease MESH vesicular stomatitis
disease MESH influenza
disease MESH infections
drug DRUGBANK (S)-Des-Me-Ampa
pathway REACTOME Reproduction
disease MESH included
disease MESH Viral Diseases
disease MESH Allergy
disease MESH Infectious Diseases
drug DRUGBANK Silver
pathway KEGG Virion
disease MESH COVID 19
pathway KEGG Viral replication
drug DRUGBANK Ruxolitinib
drug DRUGBANK Rifampicin
disease MESH image
drug DRUGBANK Medical air
disease MESH viral pneumonia
disease MESH PBS
disease MESH weight loss
disease MESH necrosis
disease MESH strains
drug DRUGBANK Cefaclor
disease MESH CCL
drug DRUGBANK Dantron
disease MESH lung adenocarcinoma
disease MESH adenocarcinoma
disease MESH FBS
drug DRUGBANK Gentamicin
disease MESH PCS
drug DRUGBANK Platinum
drug DRUGBANK Carbenicillin
drug DRUGBANK Doxycycline
drug DRUGBANK Methylergometrine
drug DRUGBANK Formaldehyde
drug DRUGBANK Water
drug DRUGBANK Pentaerythritol tetranitrate
drug DRUGBANK Aspartame
drug DRUGBANK Tromethamine
drug DRUGBANK Sodium lauryl sulfate
disease MESH SDS
drug DRUGBANK Esomeprazole
drug DRUGBANK Albendazole
disease MESH dissociation
disease MESH Plan
disease MESH glass
disease MESH Oak
drug DRUGBANK Isoflurane
disease MESH Body weight
disease MESH MSD
drug DRUGBANK Ethanol
drug DRUGBANK Sodium Citrate
drug DRUGBANK Hydrogen peroxide
drug DRUGBANK Proline
drug DRUGBANK Coenzyme M
disease MESH measles
pathway KEGG Measles
drug DRUGBANK L-Asparagine
disease MESH AIDS
drug DRUGBANK Trypsin
disease MESH Papa
disease MESH thrombosis
disease MESH pneumonia
disease MESH bronchitis
disease MESH David
pathway REACTOME Translation
pathway KEGG Ribosome
disease MESH chronic infection
disease MESH Death
drug DRUGBANK Cholesterol
disease MESH Cancer
disease MESH breakthrough infections
disease MESH Acute Lung Injury
disease MESH NTD
disease MESH bch
disease MESH hrs
drug DRUGBANK Methacholine

Original Article

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